Slot fight?

A month ago, it was rumoured that top soap producers, Ekta Kapoor and Rajan Shahi, were vying for space on Star Plus for their upcoming shows. Now, the buzz is that there has been a clash between them over the coveted 10 pm slot on the channel. Kapoor’s, Balaji Telefilms and Shahi’s, Director’s Kut have been working on their respective new shows and both want to telecast their show in the prime time slot.

Shahi denies that he has been asking for that slot. “I was informed 20 days before Bidaai went on air about the slot allotted to it. Likewise for Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. It’s now become more of a lucky charm for me not to approach the channel, especially Star Plus, for time slots. The programming teams are know well how to slot what kind of shows. So, I don’t need to approach them for this,” he says.

Kapoor says that she’s not fighting with Shahi over any slot either, and will be go with whereever the channel decides to slot her show. “I go a long way with Star Plus. We have never fought over these things and we never will. I have always been accommodating. I ensure that I adhere to what the channel asks,” adds Kapoor, who once ruled the 10 pm slot with Kahani Ghar Ghar Kii.

Meanwhile, Sabki Laadli Bebo that currently fills the slot, is facing stiff competition from Colors’ Uttaran and Zee’s 12/24 Karol Bagh that have better TRPs. With the new show coming in, Sabki Laadli Bebo may either be axed or taken into the noon slot and eventually be phased out. A source confirms, “Plans to replace Bebo have been in the offing for long. But we didn’t find any great replacement. Now, we may take a call on whether we want to run it in the noon slot or simply end it.”